Package sealing machine



Jan. 3, 1933. T. w. SATTERTHWAITE PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed April 10. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNV vTo THOMAS W sArreemwAn BY A TTORNEYS.

9 T. w. SATTERTHWAITE 1,393,307

PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed April 10. 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 m w m m VOA m mwf: A A L W I M L my 1933- T. w. SATTERTHWAITE 1,893,307

PACKAGE TSEALING CHINE Filed A ril 10, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. T'HoMAs W Smrsemwms,

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Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS W. SATTERTH'WAITE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR '10 HAMILTON FISH BENJAMIN AND JAMES D. PELL, BOTH OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND RICHARD ELY, 0]

SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY PACKAGE SEALING MAGHIN E Application filed April 10,

This invention relates to a method and ap-. paratus for closing packages and sealing the same.

In my co-pending applications, Serial Nos. 489,590 and 490,841 I have disclosed a novel method of closing a package and a. sealing device particularly applicable thereto. As po nted out in these applications, the method and device is particularly applicable when the material of the bag is cellophane, as this material presents certain diificult es in scaling since if the material is punctured or broken in any manner the effect of sealing is lost. My seal in one of its aspects briefly consists of forming an accordion fold at the top of the package and applying a. clamping device to hold the elements of the fold in close contact with each other.

The object of this invention is to form the accordion fold and applv the clamp to the package.

The invention resides chiefly in providing means for automatically feeding packages to the sealing machine, displacing the upper closure portions of the package toward one another, holding the package tightly while it is passing through the machine, forming the accordion fold, adjusting a clamp in position and clamping it tightly upon the accordion folds.

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and will be in part obvious as the description proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description and to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side view of a package with the closure portions brought together in the first stage of closure, according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the package, showing the folding of the end members;

1931. Serial No. 529,219.

with a clamp hold ng them in position;

Fig. 4 is a partial side view showing the complete assembly of a machine, except for the supports and motive power for sealing packages;

F1 g. is an enlarged detail view of the closing device on the carriage of Fig. 4;

1 1g. 6 s an enlarged View, in detail, of that portion of the mechanism of Fig. 4, which forms the pleats, in the end of the package, which have been brought together by the mechanism shown by Fig. 5; I

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the crimping rollers of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view looking downwardly on the rolls which press the folds of the end of the package together;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial view of the pleating rolls of Fig. 4, which rolls serve-to form the pleats in the package end, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged partial view of the clamping mechanism of Fig. 4, showing the application of a clamp to the folded pleats in the package end.

Referring now to the drawings, the ma-,

chine consists of a framenot shown upon which is a track or rail for guiding an endless chain. At various intervals along the chain are carried a plurality of carriages 10, to which packages, containing merchandise, are delivered in a manner which will be hereinafter described. This carriage is provided with means for clamping the package in position. The carriage 10 thereupon carries the package to a forming device 11 which forms an accordion fold in the upper closure portion of the packages after which the same is delivered to the next step 12 where a clamping element is placed in position upon the folds.

Progressing further the carriage brings the package to the sealing stage 13 where means are provided for compressing the clamp tightly about the folds to produce the seal.

As mentioned heretofore, all of these eleclamp adjuster 12, and the sealing device 13,

suitable means being provided for transfersuitable intervals along this chain are positioned carriages 10, one only, however, being shown in order not to unduly complicate the drawings. This carriage consists of a platform 16 extending transversely of the machine and fastened to several links of the chain by suitable means as for instance screws 17 and 18. Upon the platform 16 are a pair of slidable heads 19 carrying inverted L shaped plates 20. These heads are adapted to be displaced toward each other so that the upper inturned portions 21 come together to close the upper closure portions of the package, and to grip the same tightly. \Vhen the clamping elements 20 have closed upon the package the upper closure portions are in juxtaposition as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 4 the L shaped clamping elements are vertically adjustable by means of screws 22 and the slotted brackets 23 whereby packages of different size may be compensated for.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6 there is, at the center of the platform 16 a pair of ways 23 for guiding the package as it is delivered to the machine and these ways have inturned ends 24 acting as stops when the package reaches its position on the table. The package is delivered to the machine from a trayelling belt 25, along the sides of which are guides 26 for preventing the packages from falling olf the belt. Of course it is to be understood that the carriages 10 are continuously in motion, the packages being delivered from the belt 25 at suitable intervals to meet each carriage as it comes into position. The belt 25 maytravel at a higher speed than the endless chain 15 to insure that the packages abut against the stops 24.

\Vhen a package is properly positioned between the guides 23 and against the stops 24,

- the sliding heads 19 are brought together to clamp the package in position. To accomplish this the under plate 27 of the slidable heads have an inwardly extending tongue 28 in which is a slot 29. bell crank lever 30 is pivoted to the platform 16 at 31. Similarly positioned on the opposite side of the ways 23 is another pivot element Each ofthese pivot shafts 31 and 32 carry a pair of gears 33 and 34 meshing with each other, the gear 33 being fixedly secured to the bell crank lever 30 while to the gear 34 is fixedly secured an arm 35, consequently being adapted to rotate therewith. The arm 38 of the bell crank lever 30 and the arm 35 each have a pin 37 projecting into the slots 29 of the slidable eads 19 so that when the bell crank lever 30 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the sliding heads 19 will approach each other to clamp the package. Also fixedly positioned on thepins 31 and 32 are arms 38 and 39 to the ends of which is fastened a tension spring 40 so that when the sliding heads are in the separatedposition as shown the spring tends to hold them so.

The displacement of the heads 19 toward one another is accomplished as follows: the bell crank lever 30 has an arm 41 which is adapted to come in contact with a pin 42 secured to the frame of the machine. This pin is positioned in such manner that when a package has been properly placed upon the movable 'carriage, a further progression of the carriage through the machine causes the arm 41 to come in contact with the pin 42, resulting in this arm being swung in a counter-c'orkwise direction causing the sliding heads 19 to come together and grip the upper closure portions of the package as described. When these heads are at the inner position the arms 38 and 39 will have swung to the position shown in Figure 7 with the spring 40 on the opposite side of the center line through pivots 31 and 32. In this position the spring 40 will retain the slidable heads 19 in the position clamping the package. The heads remain in this position throughout all the operations of the machine until the sealing clamp is finally positioned upon the folds as mentioned heretofore. After this operation is accomplished the package must be released and for this purpose another gear 43 is provided meshing with the gear 34 and which has fixedly secured thereto in suitable manner an arm 44. Vi'hen this arm is in the position shown in Figure 7 constituting the position in which the sliding heads are closed the arm 44 comes in contact with a pin 45 also fixedly positioned on the frame 'work of the machine. Further movement of the carriage through the machine turns the gear 43 in a clockwise direction which in turn operates the other gears to return the sliding heads to the open position shown in Figure 6. A slot 46 is provided in one of the plates 27 to accommodate for the gear shaft 48 and this also provides a stop for the slidable heads 19 when in the open position.

As previously mentioned when the heads 19 are together the L shaped clamps 21 place the upper closure portions of the package in the condition shown in Figure 1. The carriage carries the package to the next machine operation which constitutes forming an accordion fold in the upper closure portions of the package. This accordion fold is illustrated in Figure 2. One means of providing this fold is the former 11 illustrated in F igures 4 and 9. Essentially the former conof the shaft of one of the wheels is secured a gear arrangement 54 through which power is provided for turning the wheel from the shaft 55.- This shaft is driven from. a central power drive and is regulated in such a manner .that the peripheral speed of the wheels 50 and 51 is the same as the longitudinal speed of the endless chain and conseguently carriage 16. Gears 56 and 57 mesh-' mg with each other insurerotation of the wheels 50 and 51 at equal speeds. It will be noted from Figure 9 that the accordion fold is formed just as near as possible to the clamping elements 21. It may be further noted that it is not necessary for the belt 25 to continue on through the machine after it has delivered the package to the platform 16 as the clamps 21 are sufficient to support the package.

After the accordion folds have been formed means are provided for pressing these together to permit the application of a clamp 60 as shown in Figure 3. To do this a forming element 61 is provided gradually di minishing in height which receives at its largest end the accordion folded upper extension of the package. As the carriage carries the package through the machine theforming element 61 presses the accordion folds together so as to permit their insertion in a clamp 60 held in position to receive the folds.

The element 12 which automatically positions the clamps 60 will now he described. This element consists of an automatic feeding arrangement which places a clamp 60 in position for the insertion of the accordion folds and holds it thus until the package is entirely within the clamp. The clamp is then released to permit the package to carry it to the next step of the machine where it is compressed about the accordion folds. This feeding device consists of a magazine 62 loaded with metal clamps 60 providing a constant feed. At the lower end of the magazine are three pairs of clamping jaws 63,64 and 65. Associated respectively with each of these pairs of jaws are racks 66, 67 and 68 having gear teeth which mesh respectively with gear wheels 69, 70 and 71. To insure simultaneous operation of corresponding clamping jaws each of the gears 69, 70 and 71 are associated with other gears 72, 73 and 74 which mesh with corresponding gears associated in like manner with racks correspondingly adapted to operate the other jaw of each pair. Thus in Figure 4, gear 69 is connected by a shaft journaled at 77 to gear 72; the gear 7 7 0 is connected by hollow shaft 7 8, j ournaled at 79 to gear 73, while gear 7 0 is connected by a shaft 79 within the shaft 78 to gear 74. In Figure 10 the manner in which gear 72 is associated with its corresponding gear only is shoWQ, it being understood, however, that all of the other gears 73 and 74 cooperate in' like manner with their corresponding. gears.

The opening and closing of the clamping aws is accomplished by crank arms associated with each of the gears 69, 70 and 71 which in turn are connected to rods driven from a cam shaft 80. One of these is shown in detail in Figure 10. Thus the gear 71 has a crank arm 81 pivoted at 83 to theailm82s The upper end of the rod SZhasa eam follower 83 riding upon a cain 84 which is suitably shaped to provide proper timing for the operation of the clamping jaws with which it is associated. A spring 85 maintains the follower in contact with the cam while the slot 86 permits reciprocal motion of the rod 82. Power for driving the cam rod 80 is de rived in suitable manner from the main power unit and its speed is so regulated that the clamps 60 are positioned to receive the accordion folds all in proper time.

The operation and timing of the clamping aws 63, 64 and 65 is such that when the lower pair of clamps are released to permit the package with clamp in position to slide out, the upper'two jaws are holding a clamp lIl position. The middle jaws then release a clamp WlllCll drops to the lower pair of jaws, the latter closing to hold this clamp in position. The middle jaw then being opened, the top pair of jaws in turn are opened to release a clamp which falls to the middle set of jaws followed by a clamp falling to position fromthe magazine within the upper set of jaws. These two sets of jaws are then closed and remain so until the lower jaw is again ready to receive a clamp. It will be noted from Figure 10 that the L shaped holders 21 are as near to the clamp 60 as is possible to place them.

The package with the closing clamp in position then proceeds to the sealing mechanism 13 a plan view of which is illustrated in Figure 8. This device consists of a plurality of rolls 8'7 and 88 which bear down to press sealing cap 60 firmly against the L shaped clamping elements 21 thereby tightly squeezing the accordion folds together and forming a very secure airtight closing for the package. The rolls 87 and 88 are fixedly secured respectively to shafts 89 and 90, the latter being driven by belts 91 and 92 from a drive shaft 93. The shaft 93 obtains its power from the central drive and its speed together with the relative sizes of the pulleys driving the rolls 87 and 88 is such that the peripheral speed of these rolls is the same as the speed of the package travelling through the machine.

In order to accommodate for any irregularities in the size of the sealing caps the rolls 87 and 88 may swing with respect to the shaft 93 to provide the necessary adjustment. This may be accomplished by permitting the arms 94 and 95 which carry the shafts 89 and 90 to swing freely with reference to shaft 93.

Afterthe sealing cap has been applied the L shaped clamps 21 release the package in a manner heretofore described and the sealed package is delivered to another machine for packing or otherwise disposed of.

""It is to be understood that many of the operations described in carrying out the objects of this invention may be accomplished by numerous other mechanisms which could be deslgned by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended therefore that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method'of closing a package which comprises pleating the closure portions, gathering the pleats, applying a clamp to hold the pleats. and applying pressure to hold the same in position.

2. Apparatus for sealing a package comprising means for forming pleats in the closure portions, means for inserting the pleats thus formed within a clamp and means for firmly attaching said clamp in position.

3. Apparatus for sealing a package comprising means for forming pleats in the closure portions, means for gathering said pleats for insertion within a clamp, and means for firmly attaching said clamp in position on the folded closure.

4. Apparatus for sealing a package comprising means for bringing the closure portions together, means for forming pleats in the closure portions, means for gathering said pleats for insertion within a clamp, and means for firmly attaching said clamp in position on the fold-ed closure.

5. Apparatus for sealing a package comprising a carriage for supporting said package during the sealing operation, means carried by said carriage for bringing the closure portions together and gripping the same, means for forming pleats in said closure portions, and means for applying a clamp for holding the same in position.

6. Apparatus for sealing a package comprising a carriage for supporting said package during the sealing operation, means carried by said carriage for bringing the closure portions together and gripping the same, means for forming pleats in said closure portions, means for gathering said pleats for insertion within a clamp, and means for attaching the clamp in position on the folded closure.

@Apparatus for sealing a package comprlsmga carriage for supporting said package during the sealing operation, means carried by said carriage for bringing the clo- .sure portions together and gripping the same,

means for forming pleats in said closure portions, means for gathering said pleats for insertion within a clamp, and pressure means for closing said clamp by pressing it against said gripping means.

Apparatus for sealing packages comprising a frame, a plurality of grooved rolls mounted upon said frame and adapted to form the closure portion of said package, means for driving said rolls, means also mounted upon said frame for positioning a clamp into which said formed closure portion is adapted to slide and means for affixing said clamp to close the package.

9. The method of closing a package, which comprises pleating the closure portions, pressmg the pleats together, and applying a clamp to hold the pleats together.

10. The method of closing a package, which comprises placing the closure portions together, folding the closure portions over each other to form a plurality of pleats, and gathering and clamping the pleats together.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS lV. SATTERTHVVAITE. 

